Presidental and National Merit Scholar Finalist

Cranston Native selected as a Presidential Scholar candidate, National Merit Scholarship finalists

Daniel Brandes of Cranston, a member of Moses Brown School’s class of 2014, has been selected as a candidate for the Presidential Scholar Program. Six seniors have advanced to the finalist stage in the National Merit Scholarship annual competition.

Moses Brown’s 2014 Presidential Scholar candidates are:

William Atkinson, Rumford

Daniel Brandes, Cranston

Margot Creamer, Barrington

Sydney Harrington, East Greenwich

 Selected each year in May, U.S. Presidential Scholars are comprised of one young man and one young woman from each state, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, and from U.S. families living abroad, as well as those chosen at-large and 20 U.S. Presidential Scholars in the Arts. Applicants for the program are by invitation only, determined by College Board ACT and SAT test scores. For further consideration, students submit essays, transcripts and self-evaluations. Candidates are further assessed on their overall academic success, and final selections are made in April. Recent Presidential Scholars include Moses Brown alumni Dylan Neel ’11 and Jessica Magro ’13.

Created in 1964, the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program has honored more than 6,000 of the nation's top-performing students with the prestigious award given to honorees during an annual ceremony in Washington, D.C. The program was expanded in 1979 to recognize students who demonstrate exceptional talent in the visual, literary and performing arts.

Moses Brown’s National Merit Scholarship Finalists are:

 More than 1.5 million students took the PSAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test in October 2012, the initial assessment in determining 2014’s National Merit Scholars. 15,000 finalists – the top 1% -- are considered for 8,000 scholarship awards, including a $2,500 National Merit Scholarship. Finalists' scores, high school recommendations, skills and accomplishments are assessed to determine award winners in the spring.

About Moses Brown School

Founded in 1784, Moses Brown is an independent, college preparatory school, enrolling 775 boys and girls, nursery through grade 12. The school's founder — an innovative thinker, philanthropist, and entrepreneur named Moses Brown – envisioned a progressive school that defined excellence. Today, his Quaker school continues to help children reach their full potential, and to do both well and good.